Chelmsford native goes from 'Simpsons' to children's books

John R. Krause has come a long way since graduating from Chelmsford High School in 1986 and so has his imagination.

Molly Loughman/mloughman@wickedlocal.com

John R. Krause has come a long way since graduating from Chelmsford High School in 1986 and so has his imagination.

The Hollywood award-winning animator and designer put a colorful twist on his career in his first published children’s book, "POCO LOCO."

"POCO LOCO" is co-written by Krause and his wife, Maria Chua, using his illustrations. The zany bilingual picture book, targeting kids 3 to 7, about an unusual and innovative mouse, hits stores Tuesday, April 30.

"Animation is all about storytelling with sequential art, acting, expressions. All that type of stuff translates directly to picture books… A picture book is such a smaller thing; it’s really your own vision. It feels very personal," said Krause, a supervising animation designer, specializing in background and props for "The Simpsons."

The creation of "POCO LOCO," a less than 500-word colorful picture book with expressive characters, spotted with Spanish terminology, was initially sketched out with pencil on paper and then redrawn on the computer. The story is about a waffle-eating mouse who saves the day and his barnyard friends with one of his quirky inventions.

Raising his now 5- and 7-year-old daughters was an education in itself on how to make a better picture book, admitted Krause. The father of two visits the library weekly checking out dozens of picture books at a time. The concise writing and detailed pictures are what tells the story, shared Krause, who is published under "J.R. Krause."

"The whole experience of sitting down and reading with your own child is so interactive and special. You know, you just don’t get that out of watching a cartoon."

Krause grew up in Chelmsford and credits CHS for its "outstanding art program." He pegs his sources of inspiration to CHS art teachers Paula Brown and Eric Hoover. The two encouraged Krause to pursue art school when they co-taught Krause in the school’s advanced placement studio art program. Krause ended up at Rhode Island School of Design, where he graduated in 1990 with a degree in illustration.

"For many kids like John, It was a joy to make art and to continually improve the quality of their work… I did everything I could to support them in their very personal pursuit of visual creativity," said Hoover, a CHS computer graphics art teacher, teaching in town for 30 years.

As for Brown, she always thought Krause was an enthusiastic, hard working, creative and talented art student, who stayed in touch over the years.

"There will always be careers in the arts. Everything man-made has been designed," said Brown, who has been teaching in Chelmsford for 26 years. "Even in times of a tough economy, an artist has to think creatively, be open-minded and try all kinds of options. To have a versatile base is key."

Krause admitted he never considered a career in picture books.

"Both of them are some of the best teachers I ever had in my life. They convinced me a career in art was viable… Otherwise I would have become a chef," he said.

After college, Krause worked in broadcast graphics in Boston before his career path hit a turning point. High school and college friend Lance Wilder suggested Krause join him in Los Angeles, Calif. working on "The Simpsons." In 1992, Krause was hired during the show’s third season and left in 1997 to work on other animated sitcoms, "King of the Hill" and" Furturama." On "Futurama," Krause created and illustrated the show’s Planet Express Ship, ray guns, vehicles and more.

He eventually found himself composing images for the L.A. design firm, Evenson Design Group, designer of the New England Patriot’s logo. While at EDG, Krause was tasked with developing a promotion item for the firm, a picture book, during which he became well-versed in "hip" picture book illustrators.

"It became interesting to me and I spoke with my wife about it. She created a picture book awhile back," said Krause, whose bilingual wife, Maria Chua, attended the University of Madrid Spain, lived in Mexico and is now a social worker in L.A.

According to Chua, over 10years ago she wrote a story about a cat named Sam and his roommate Pat the Rat. Krause sketched drawings of Sam and Pat, who evolved into a mouse renamed, Poco. According to Krause, a marketable picture book relies on timing and the right editor, especially bilingual books. Eventually he chose a literary agent, despite poor bilingual book sales. After over a decade, a book deal was offered.

A major challenge for "POCO LOCO" was tailoring it to a special niche market for native and non-native Spanish readers, while in a playful and imaginative manner, said Chua. Krause thinks "POCO LOCO," unlike many others, appeals to boys, too.

Published through Two Lions Amazon Children’s Publishing, the book received positive feedback from Kirkus Reviews, which wrote, "Husband-and-wife team Krause and Chua’s debut is an ebulliently silly bilingual barnyard tale… The bright, stylized cartoon illustrations are just what one would expect from a designer who works on "The Simpsons" TV show…¡Ay, Poco Loco! We hope to see you again soon."

Krause and Chua finished and submitted a sequel manuscript to their agent last fall. They anticipate a second book.

"The difference between success and failure is giving up. I grew up in Chelmsford and no one in my family drew. It was kind of just going down that path my parents didn’t know anything about," said Krause, who despite living in Calif., still thinks of Massachusetts as home.

“Be open to possibilities. I never aspired to go into animation… I had never been to California, but I was open to trying it.”